Reasons Why One Should Never Drink from an Unwashed Can Out of a Drink Machine

A few days ago my son came to me to warn me of drinking from a soda can drink machine. He stated he had been sent an email regarding a young girl who drank from a can out of one of these machines without washing the can first. Even though I am not sure of the validity of this claim, its not unreasonable to think something of this nature could happen.

You often see people run up to these drink machines, dispense a can and begin to drink without cleaning the can first. I have always abhorred this practice. I am one of those individual who one might describe as being OCD oriented (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). You see, I am a cleanliness freak. Before using, eating or drinking out of anything, my hands and the item is washed thoroughly.

Years ago, I watched as one of the drivers of a coke truck began to remove drinks from a coke dispensing machine. He had been told of a problem with the machine cooling. This was during the time period that the drivers of these trucks would try to determine and resolve issues with their machines. While he was working on the machine, he moved it from the wall and began to dismantle it. It was then that I saw a dead rat under the machine. Not on the floor mind you, but in the bottom of the machine itself. It appeared as though the rat had been there for some time.

Can you imagine drinking from cans that had been right above a dead rat for some time? I warned all the employees to make sure they washed their cans before drinking from any soda can drink machines. Management wanted none of the details given out for fear of law suits or maybe claims of illness. So, no additional details were disclosed.

With the ever present problems of never before heard of diseases and illnesses occurring so often today, it is always advisable to wash any container before consuming food or beverages.

I am one of those individuals who also wash my items from the grocery store before they are placed in my pantry, the refrigerator or freezer. You never know what those containers have come in contact with or the cleanliness habits of stockers, cashiers or other customers.

Often, I have visited grocery stores during Fridays. Those are generally the days when cooking demonstrations, new products or some form of presentation is taking place. It is rare that I do not find a wrapper, cup or some piece of material from a shopper who has finished eating his or her treat and just places it on the shelf where another buyer can be repulsed by a half eaten meal or a container of unfinished or even finished food.

It's understandable that the body must receive a few germs to build up an immunity, but the mere fact that unknown, deadly diseases are now passed by contact with diseases from one person to another.